Travellers Needed! Central Supply Catalogue Updates

[Hardwire]

I would totally support a Kickstarter that was aimed at converting some of the Mongoose Traveller 1e books (Merchant Prince, Psionics, Supplement 14: Space Stations, ETC...).

I would support a Kickstarter that incorporated some of the alternate systems mentioned here, and in the High Guard thread.

Let those of us that want the product, support the product.

 

[agentwigggles]

In regard to computers in traveller. Something that I have notice is that concept of what a computer is in traveller and what a computer is now have diverge a lot.

I don't think traveller computers need to change really.
Traveller like most sci Fi, just totally underestimate the speed of development. It didn't do as bad as 1e cyberpunk or shadow run but maybe a side bar or something on what a typical use and how they work?


As a player. I would be fine if expert software went away as a fiddly dm+1 and instead became an assumed ubiquitous tool.

As a GM. Expert software is sandpaper to work with it. It's in a difficult position where it's too cheap for how strong it is but it also feels stupid to make it more expensive. Of course players should chase after the cheap.+1 but that would demand that all npc of means would have expert 5.

This would mean that the default broker dm of 2 for spec trading is being done by someone horrible inexperienced or incompetent.

As much as traveller gm like to present a strong face that the world is agnostic to the characters. I don't think a lot of us are giving every every marginally successful or wealthy NPC with loads of expert software.

And beside that, expert software aren't quite detailed enough. Like how long does it take load one or to unload one. what sensors does a platform need to use expert recon software.

 

[Limpin Legin]

In regard to computers in traveller. Something that I have notice is that concept of what a computer is in traveller and what a computer is now have diverge a lot.

I don't think traveller computers need to change really.

You don't need to change slug throwers in order to "invent" energy weapons and their different responses to armour types. Same goes with computers. Computers defined in terms of Bandwidth is fine up to TL8. Because of the demands of software beyond TL9 then there might be a need for there to be other plausible compute architectures or traits demanded by the s/w. Clusters is one such architecture already represented in the game. Slightly less detailed is distributed architectures. The next obvious architecture would be AI accelerators.

Traveller like most sci Fi, just totally underestimate the speed of development. It didn't do as bad as 1e cyberpunk or shadow run but maybe a side bar or something on what a typical use and how they work?

Can paint the game mechanics in broad brush strokes. Like, computer interfaces are just there when interfacing to sophont users. But we do not need to know detail if interface is actually a GUI or a CLI, just that it is adequate for convincing game flow.

As a GM. Expert software is sandpaper to work with it. It's in a difficult position where it's too cheap for how strong it is but it also feels stupid to make it more expensive. Of course players should chase after the cheap.+1 but that would demand that all npc of means would have expert 5.

I suspect that is because there is no upper limit about what an Expert Package cannot do. It is like, hey, this expert package can mimic this intricate skill down to the finest detail, without mistranslation, misexecution or simply being fed poorly chosen data sets.
Don't really need lots of detail for a game, but if there is a mechanic that creates the same impression without tedious detail, then that would be great.

And beside that, expert software aren't quite detailed enough. Like how long does it take load one or to unload one. what sensors does a platform need to use expert recon software.

Time to execute would be great. Like we don't know if each expert skill package is slower or faster when run on different architectures compared with the performance of a human having a go at the same skill.

 

[NOLATrav]

It needs to be simple and intuitive. Most people don’t understand computer architectures but they can figure out a basic UI.

Expert programs should give a bonus equal to their rating, regardless of who is using them. But they require user input to function (ie, whoever is using it has to make the task roll - Unskilled should apply).

In fact, ALL software should give a bonus equal to its rating. Fire Control is a fun exception, +1 to two turrets or +2 to one?

Agent programs should be capable of performing tasks on their own, once the user has defined their mission. They should require supporting Expert programs to accomplish said mission. There’s no other reason for Agent programs. If you want to level Agent programs, 1 autonomous task per level of the software, simultaneously.

Intelligent Interface is weird (outdated?) and should be dropped. But software for any skill imaginable should be available.

Likewise for Intelligent Weapons. Give them a computer and appropriate software; it is bolted on after all. A gun that can shoot by itself is kind of silly. A gun that can help determine friend vs foe in a tight scrum is almost magical.

Much like Power Points, we need time frames for regular usage. In CT it was a week-long “turn” to jump, then a week to arrive-land-sell, a week to buy-load-depart… perhaps some integration with the task times rules would be helpful.

 

[Shardan13]

How about reintroduce the SOC price increase table from MG1 Dilettante. After all some pretentious noble scion isn't going to the same stores as the poor public even if the items bought from both are functionally the same.

 

[mavikfelna]

How changing tech levels affects equipment. Does changing the TL of a toolkit affect more than just price? If you're using a different TL toolkit vs the item you're working on, how much difference does it really make?
IE. A carpentry toolkit is, say, TL 1. Hammer, nails, plumb bob, plainer, what have you. If I make one at TL13, its significantly tougher and longer lasting but is it really any better? More presice probably but there's only so much you can do to hammer a nail. But something like a Ship's Engineering kit will change radically between TL 8 and 15. A TL15 floor plate puller might not even be compatible with one from TL8 just cause how gravity is generated may have changed significantly.
Computers need a lot more clarity.
Terry Mixon has a good simple rule for Expert packages used in his games, basically that the expert level gives +1 to the skill check if it's equal to better than your skill level, otherwise it treats you as having the skill at -1 level of the program. But, as mentioned above, just making Expert programs ubiquitous after a certain computer TL is achieved might be a better way to go.

 

[Condottiere]

If we're going into branding.

Forgeries and knock offs.

 

[RYXlord]

Budget Gear

Perhaps, aligning the design elements of CSC and HG, there could be a rule for budget gear? In HG, budget components are in the same section as the prototype rules, and I feel it would be easy to do similar with CSC, you'd just need to slip a 'budget' row on the Prototech Features table in CSC. It would be TL+0, Mass x1, cost x 0.75, Skill DM 0, Disadvantages 1+ Quirk. The only real trouble would be the "double item's cost" result on the quirk table, and that could either get changed or have "(reroll if budget)" added.

 

[MasterGwydion]

How about reintroduce the SOC price increase table from MG1 Dilettante. After all some pretentious noble scion isn't going to the same stores as the poor public even if the items bought from both are functionally the same.

I have mentioned this as well.

 

[Terry Mixon]

I have mentioned this as well.

My players are about to start rubbing elbows with the rich and powerful in the Singularity campaign, and want to get suitable clothing, so I'm reaching for my copy even now. Their wallets may never be the same.

 

[CordwainerFish]

My players are about to start rubbing elbows with the rich and powerful in the Singularity campaign, and want to get suitable clothing, so I'm reaching for my copy even now. Their wallets may never be the same.

It takes money to have money, like they say.

 

[Terry Mixon]

It takes money to have money, like they say.

Exactly.

 

[hopsnbaer]

Exactly.

JTAS 12 "Suits You, Sophont" Noble clothing Page 38

 

[Terry Mixon]

JTAS 12 "Suits You, Sophont" Noble clothing Page 38

*scurries off to read it right now*

Thanks!

 

[wintertraveller]

I recommend restoring two weapons that disappeared between formatting versions of the 2023 update:

- Claw Glove
- Light Assault Gun

 

[wintertraveller]

The summary table for portable heavy weapons disappeared between versions of the 2023 update.